Bracelet.



PATENTBD FEB. 27, 1906. T. W. FOSTER.

BRACELET. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 6. 1905.

OZL/

IN VEN TUE dee@ e NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Febfe?, 1906.

Application led December 6,1905. Serial No. 290,589.

T0 LLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE W. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bracelets, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention has reference to an improvement in bracelets, and more particularly to an improvement in concealed hinges for bracelets.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of a concealed hinge for bracelets, whereby the interlocking members of the hinge are held together under spring tension from the side arms and a stronger and more durable concealed hinge is constructed than has heretofore been done.

My invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of a concealed hinge for bracelets, with details of construction, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure l is a side view of a two-part bracelet provided with my improved concealed hinge and showing the bracelet in the closed position in full lines and in the open position in broken lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the hinge end of the bracelet looking at the outside face of the hinge. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 through the hinge and adj acent portions of the bracelet and showing the hinge in the closed position. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the hinge in the open position. Fig. 5 is a detail view looking at the outside face of one interlocking member of the hinge, and Fig. 6 is a detail view looking at the outside face of the other interlocking member of the hinge. l

In-the drawings, a indicates one semi-oval half, b the other semi-oval half, and c the concealed hinge of my improved bracelet.

The semi-oval halves a and Z2 are constructed from a tube which is oval in cross-section. The upper half a has the end a/ for the hinge and the end a2. The lower half b has the end b for the hinge and the end b2. The ends a and b .and the ends a2 and b2 coincide when the bracelet is closed. The ends c2 and b2 may be provided with any of the well-known forms of catches adapted to hold the ends together when the bracelet is closed.

My improved concealed hinge c consists of the members d and e. These members d and e are curved to conform to the contour of the bracelet and shaped to iit in the ends a and b of the bracelet, in which they are secured by solder or other means. The member d is formed to have a solid end d', from which extends a rigid portion d2, reduced in thickness at d3 to form an arm d4, having a hook-shaped end d5, thickened on its inner face to form a stop-shoulder d, and a spring side arm d?, cxtending from the end d parallel with the arm d4 and forming a central opening d8, as shown in Fig. 5. The member e is formed to have a solid end e, from which extends a rigid portion e2, reduced in thickness at e3 to form an arm e4, having an end e5, thickened on itsinner face to form a stop-shoulder e, and a spring side arm e7, extending from the end e parallel with the arm e4 and forming a central opening e8. A transverse pin e9 is secured in the arm e4 adjacent the end c5 and extends across the opening e8, as shown in Fig. 6.

The members ci and e of the hinge are brought into their operative positions by forcing the arm d4 on the member d through the opening e8 in the member e at right angles, hooking the hook-shaped end d5 on the arm d4 over the pin e9 on the arm e4, and then bringing the members on a curved line with each other. The solid ends d and c of the members d and e are now secured in the ends a/ and b of the bracelet by solder or other means in a position to bring the pin e9 on a line with the joint of the bracelet, as shown in Fig. 3. The inner and outer edges of the hook-shaped end d5 are semicircular in contour, the center of which coincides with the center on which the bracelets open. The inner semicircular edge of the hook-shaped end d5 extends beyond the pin e9, (which now forms the pintle of the hinge,) forming a space between the pin and the inner end of the hook, with the hinge in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 3, thus allowing the hinge to be opened, as shown in Fig. 4. The hinge is limited in its opening movement by the Stop-shoulder d6 on the member d engaging with the stop-shoulder@6 on the member e, also by the pin e on the member e engaging with the'inner edge of the hook-shaped end d5 on the member d, as shown in Fig. 4. The spring-arms 17 and e7 on the members exert a spring tension on the arms d4 and e, thereby holding the arms d4 and e4 together under spring tension, compensating for wear between the arms, and preventing looseness or chattering of the hinge. The opening at the IIO hinge-joint of the bracelet when the bracelet is opened is practically closed by the members of the hinge, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby preventing the bracelet from catching on the apparel in closing the bracelet.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a hinged bracelet, avconcealed hinge comprising a member having a solid end from which extends a rigid arm having a hook-shaped end7 and a spring side arm extending from the solid end parallel with the rigid arm, and a member having a solid end from which extends a rigid arm, a pin secured transversely in the rigid arm adjacent its end and a spring side arm extending from the solid end parallel with the rigid arm, said members being provided with means for limiting the opening movement of the hinge and means for securing the members of the hinge in the bracelet.

2. A concealed bracelet-hinge comprising a member d having a solid end d/ from which extends a rigid portion d2 reduced in thickness to form an arm d4 having the hookshaped end d5 thickened on its inner face to forma stop-shoulder d, and a spring side arm Z7 extending from the solid end d parallel with the rigid arm d4 and forming a central opening d8, and a member e having a solid end e trom which extends a rigid portion e2 reduced in thickness to form an arm e4 having the end e5 thickened on its inner face to form a stop-shoulder e, a spring side arm e7 extending from the solid end e parallel with the rigid arm e4 and forming a central opening e8 and a transverse pin e secured in the arm e4 adjacent the end e5 and across the opening es, and means for securing the members d and e of the hinge in a bracelet.

3. The combination with a tubular half a having the end a! and a tubular half b having the end b/ of a bracelet, of a concealed hinge c composed of a member d having a solid end from which extends a rigid portion d2 reduced in thickness to Jform an arm d4 having a hook-shaped end d5 thickened on its inner face to form a stop-shoulder d and a spring side arm (Z7 extending from the end d parallel with the arm d4 andforming a central opening d8 and a member e having a solid end e Jfrom which extends a rigid portion e2 reduced in thickness `to Jform an arm e1 having the end e5 thickened on its inner face to form a stop-shoulder e, a spring side arm e7 extending from the solid end e parallel with the arm e4 and forming a central opening e8, and a transverse pin e secured in the arm e4 adj acent the end e5 and across the opening e8, and means for securing the members d and e of the hinge in the ends a and b of the brace- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THEODORE W. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

ADA E. IIAGERTY, J. A. MILLER. 

